Senior center proposal: $10,000 request for architect, attorney fees

An update by County Commissioner Donald Eaton on plans for building a senior/community center in southern St. Joseph County resulted in $10,000 to pay for future architect and attorney fees.

By Terry Katzkatz@sturgisjournal.com

An update by County Commissioner Donald Eaton on plans for building a senior/community center in southern St. Joseph County resulted in $10,000 to pay for future architect and attorney fees.

Eaton told commissioners Monday he needed a “footprint” in order to get a letter of interest from the city of Sturgis for the project.

Eaton has been discussing the senior citizen center for several years and has been working to gather support from municipalities surrounding Sturgis. He successfully spearheaded plans to establish a county building authority for the purpose of building the center and other projects.

The senior center would be located on property currently owned by the city, next to Doyle Community Center and across from Thurston Woods Village.

Eaton made an official motion Monday during his update report. His report was not an agenda item until he requested that it be added Monday. He was supported in that motion by Commissioner John Dobberteen.

The $10,000, it was explained, would come from a special fund labeled “Fairview Account,” which has existed since 1992.

That account, which resulted from a property sale in the 1990s, has been used for projects that benefit the community.

County administrator Judy West-Wing said there is currently about $77,000 in the account. One other project that benefited from the account was the purchase of Cade Lake Park.

Commissioner Allen Balog raised a few questions.

“I would like to see the $10,000 come from the COA (Commission on Aging) budget,” Balog said.

Eaton disagreed.

“It’s much easier if we paid it,” he said.

Eaton said the money would go to a second architect who has expertise in building senior citizen centers and to Sturgis attorney Joe Haas for legal fees.

Commissioner Larry Walton wanted to know the USDA’s role in the proposed project.

“Is it for a grant?” he asked.

Eaton said in the beginning it would be for a loan at a very small interest rate.

Commission chairman Rick Shaffer said it’s important for the concept of a community center to be included in this project. He also said it is important to be sensitive to the needs of seniors in other parts of the county.

When Eaton was asked about the importance of the project for senior residents, he said the county must be ready for the coming influx of the elderly. He said it’s only a matter of time.

“The clock is ticking,” he said.

He told commissioners how incoming senior citizens with pensions, 401Ks and other retirement financial resources will provide a major benefit to the community.